Bag-fastener.



No. 636,436. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

w. J. LANKFORD. BAG FASTENER.

(Application filed Apr. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT rric.

WILLIAM J. LANKFORD, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES M. GRANT, OF SAME PLACE.

' BAG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,436, dated November 7, 1899.

Application filed April 14,1899.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it kn own that I, WILLIAM J. LANKFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- peka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Fasteners and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bag-fasteners; and the intent of the same is to dispense with the use of the ordinary form of cord or string and the inconveniences arising from delay in tying operations, to avoid the utilizing of both easily-destructible and complex devices for closing a bag-mouth, and to furnish means attached to the bag in readily-engageable position at all times, adapted to be drawn around the gathered bag-mouth and locked against accidental disconnection or loosening under ordinary conditions and irrespective of the stress of the bulk of the contents of the bag or external contact with adjacent or contiguous bags or surfaces.

The invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective View of a part of a bag, showing the improved fastener applied thereto in closed position. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the improved bag-fastener shown open. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of the fastener shown closed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a part of the bag and fastener, showing the mode of attaching the latter. 7

Referringto the drawings, wherein similar numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a bag having a mouth adapted to be gathered.

The fastener comprises two semicylindrical skeleton sections 2 and 3, made up of stiff wire of suitable gage and having sufficient inherent resiliency to accomplish the purposes of a fastener. loops, and the section 2 has its free end provided with terminal eyes 4, arranged in planes at right angles to the direction of the parts of said section on which the eyes are formed.

Both sections are formed as Serial No. 713,020. (No model.)

The section 3 has its free ends also terminating in eyes 5, which stand in planes substantially parallel with the direction of the parts that support the same and movably interlocked with the eyes 4 to institute a hinged joint and permit the sections 2 and 3 to be freely opened and closed in a horizontal plane,

but prevent the rise and fall of the said sections in a vertical direction. The uncon- 6o nected end 6 of the section 2 is closed and extended transversely for receptive purposes, and the similar end 7 of the section 3 is likewise extended, but to a less degree than the end 6 of section 2, and formed with an angular bend8 to provide a fulcrum 9. This end 7 of the section 3 is also closed, and the angular bend 8 is in an outward direction. A locking-tongue 10, with an inturued free end 11, is pivotally attached to the closed end 7 of the section 3 by forming coils 12 in the body thereof, loosely embracing said end of section 3, and the terminals 13 are extended out in planes substantially parallel with the tongue, but wider apart than the latter, to form guards for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The fastener is seen red to the bag so that it willjalways be in position for use and to serve its desired function, and the preferred 8o manner of attaching the fastener to the bagis shown by Fig. 4, 'wherein a staple 14 is passed through the eyes 4 of the section 2 and the prongs 15 then inserted through the material of the bag and a clenching-plate 16 and upset on the latter. The said plate 16 is located within the body of the bag, and the eyes 4 are primarily made large enough to accommodate the reception of the said staple without interfering with the hinge connection of 0 both sections.

In operating the improved fastener the mouth of the full bag is gathered, as shown in Fig. 1, and both sections 2 and 3 are moved together, and owing to their curved contour 5 will conform readily to the shape of the closed bag-mouth. The tongue 10 is then inserted through the end 6 of the section 2 from the rear and drawn over until the guards 13 stand on the outside of said end 6. Then by turn- I00 ing the tongue 10 over its supporting end 7 the section 3 is gradually pulled through the end 6 of section 2 and the tongue pressed back past the center and located substantially within the opposite parts of the section 3, and in this position the guards 13 will be disposed at the rear, as shown in Fig. 1, and the fastener locked against accidental disengagement. When the opposite section and parts of the fastener are in this relation, the outward angular bend S of the section 3 projects through the end 6 of the section 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and the tension of the end 6 on the guards 14 adjacent the coils 12 will hold the tongue with sufficient resistance as to prevent it from having a loose movement or tendency to become unlocked when not desired. In disconnecting the has tener the tongue is pulled overfrom the right toward the left, and at the same time the guards 13 shift or pull upon the end 6 of the section 2 in the same direction, and thus afford means for permitting the said tongue to be withdrawn from the end of the section 2 when it is in full horizontal disposition.

Changes in dimensions and minor details of construction and arrangement might be resorted to without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is' 1. A bag-fastener comprising two movablyattached semicircular skeleton sections connected by eyes disposed at right angles on the respective sections, the outer ends of the sections being closed and one formed with an outwardly-extending angular bend, and a tongue movably attached to the said outwardly-extending angular bend and having guards projecting thereover, the tongue being adapted to be passed through the end of the opposite section and exert a contractible tension on and form a lock for both sections.

2. A bag-fastener, comprising two movablyattached sections of semicircular skeleton form connected by interlocking eyes disposed at right angles on the respective sections, the opposite portions of the sections being closed and one formed with an outwardly-extending angular bend and the opposite section widening at its outer portion, and a tongue having coils movably engaging a part of the outwardly-extending angular bend and the terminals-returned from the said coils over the body of the tongue to form guards which are in substantial parallel relation, the said tongue adapted to be passed through the outer enlarged end of the opposite section and exert a contraetible tension on and form a lock for both sections, the fastener as an entirety being also movably attached to the bag.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM J. LANKFORD.

\Vitnesses:

T. E. DE PUE, A. M. COOK. 

